Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of the child's disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months. This level of care and attention must be required to allow the child deal with the activities of daily living.

Eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the type of disability or diagnosis but primarily on the impact of the child's disability, in terms of the associated overall level of care and attention required by the child compared to a child of a similar age who does not have such a disability.

An application for DCA in respect of their child was received by my Department from the person concerned in January 2024. A Deciding Officer disallowed the claim as per a decision letter dated 23 February 2024. Based on the information provided, the child was not considered to satisfy the conditions for DCA. This determination also considered the supporting documentary evidence that was provided by the applicant in their application. The Deciding Officer had regard to the professional opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor in the decision process and a copy of this opinion was issued to the applicant for information along with the decision notification.

The applicant requested a review of the above decision.

Following a review of their application, including all information and evidence available at the time of the original decision and all further information / evidence that was provided in support of their review request, a Deciding Officer decided not to revise the above decision as per review decision dated 07 March 2024.

The person concerned submitted further additional information / medical evidence for consideration. This further information / medical evidence has been referred for a further opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor (MA). On receipt of the MA opinion, a further review of eligibility for DCA in this case will be completed by a Deciding Officer and the person concerned will be notified directly of the review decision in writing as soon as possible.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.